Continuous cutting and dislodging element



May 4, 1954 M. A. GLI-:EsoN 2,677,536

CONTINUOUS CUTTING AND DISLODGING ELEMENT Filed July ll, 1951 2 SheS-Shee l ZZZ' May 4, 1954 M. A. GLEESON CONTINUOUS CUTTING AND DIsLoDGTNG ELEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July l1 1951 fw man Zar Q, @www Patentecl May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT entre QFFICE CONTINUOUS CUTTING AND DISLDGING ELEMENT Application July 11, 1951, Serial No. 238,214

6 Claims. l

This invention relates to improvements in continuous cutting and dislodging elements for cutting and dislodging coal from a solid face in a continuous operation.

A principal object of my invention is to provide a continuous cutting and dislodging element arranged to cut and dislodge coal and the like from a solid coal face in a more efficient and expeditious manner than formerly.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved form of rotary continuous cutting and dislodging element arranged with a view toward attaining a high percentage of lump coal and reducing the power required to eiiect the breaking and dislodging of the coal from the solid.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a continuous cutting and dislodging element for coal and the like arranged to cut and dislodge coal from a solid working face in a continuous operation while operating from the mine roof to the mine bottom, and utilizing a plurality of spaced kerf cutters rotating together to cut a plurality of kerfs in a solid face, and a plurality of intermediate core breaker elements rotating together at a slower speed than the speed of rotation of the kerf cutters, to dislodge the cores between the kerfs.

Another and more specific object of my invention is to provide a continuous cutting and dislodging element for coal and the like consisting in a drum having a, plurality of individually l driven coaxial sleeves rotatable thereabout, alternate of which sleeves are driven at higher speeds than the others and have kerf cutters thereon and the intermediate of which sleeves are driven at a, slower speed and have core breakers thereon spaced to engage and break down the cores between the kerfs cut by the kerf cutters.

These and other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specication proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through a cutting, breaking and dislodging element constructed in accordance with my invention; t

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the cutting, breaking and dislodging element shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially along line III-III of Figure 1, showing the kerf cutters and the geared drive thereto; and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line IV-IV of Figure 1, showing the core breakers and the geared drive thereto.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, reference character IB indicates generally a cutting, breaking and dislodging element or mining head of the rotary drum type. Said cutting and dislodging element is shown as being supported between two spaced cutter bars H, Il having cutter chains I2, l2 guided for orbital movement thereabout. The cutter chains i2, I2 may be of a well known form including a plurality of pivotally connected cutter blocks l3-i3 detachably carrying cutter bits lt--lli and may be orbitally driven about the cutter bars li-ll by power-driven sprockets (not shown) at the rear ends of said cutter bars.

The cutter bars l I--l l may be like those shown and described in application Serial No. 116,684, nled September 20, 1949, by Frank Cartlidge, and entitled Apparatus and System for the Continuous Cutting and Removing of Coal from the Solid." Said cutter bars may be pivotally mounted at their rear ends on a mobile machine frame (not shown), for lateral adjustment about a vertical axis and for feeding movement about a horizontal axis, preferably from the mine roof to the mine door. They may also be advanced into the coal face to feed the cutting and dislodging element lo thereinto, adjacent the mine roof, and may be retractably moved with respect to the coal face, for withdrawing the cutting, breaking and dislodging element I0 therefrom, in the manner clearly shown and described in the aforementioned application of Frank Cartlidge, and no part of my invention, so not herein shown or described in detail.

Each cutter bar Il is herein shown as terminating in a plate i5. The plates IE- l are allcchiral and have a central hub i5, forming a support for a bearing ll, herein shown as being an anti-friction bearing. A transverse shaft i9 is rotatably mounted in said bearings at its ends, for free rotation with respect to said plate. The plates i5 likewise each have a shouldered portion 2@ spaced radially outwardly from the hub l5 and forming abutments for shouldered bearings 2i, 2l for sprockets 23, 23 for the cutter chains i2, l2.

Each sprocket 23 forms a direction changing device for the respective cutter chain as it turns about the forward end of the -cutter bar and also forms a drive means for the transverse shaft I9, as will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds.

A ring 25 is seated in an inner annular shoul- .3 dered portion 2B of the plate l5, spaced inwardly of the shoulder 2li. Said ring encircles but is spaced radially from the hub i6. The outer periphery of the ring 25 forms a continuation of the annular shouldered portion 23 of the plate i5 and with said annular shouldered portion forms a support for the bearing 2l. The ring 25 has a plurality of inwardly extending equally spa-ced bosses 22T-21, which may be three in number. Said bosses are shown as extending inwardly to the outer periphery of the hub it and form support bosses for transverse shafts 29-29 extending therethrough at their ends and `through the plates -15. The shafts ii-39 form tie rods connecting the cutter bars iI-H together and have reduced end portions, the shoulders on which abut the inner sides of the bosses E'I-JM, and space the plates l5-i5 and cutter bars Ii-li apart and also hold thc rings 25-25 to said plates. Nuts 3Q-3B are shown as being threaded on the outer ends of the shafts 23-29 to retain the rings 25-25 to the plates lE-IS and to retain the cutting and disiodging element in assembled relation.

The rings 2525 form the end members of a drum 3i, herein shown as being sectional ond assembled on the shafts '2329 between the plates iii-i5 of the cutter bars ii, Il. drum forms a bearing support means for a plurality of alternately arranged rota-table core breaker carrying members 32--3'l, herein shown as being cylindrical in the form of sleeves, and rotatable kerf cutter carrying members 33-5i3. also shown as being in the form of sleeves. Said sleeves are shown as being ,iournaled on Vsaid drum in side-by-side relation with respect to each other between the sprockets iii-43.

rThe drurn 3E comprises the end rings 25-25, a ring 3e abutting and having inter-engagernent with the ring 25, which in Figure- 1 is shown being the left-hand ring, a ring 35 abutting the right-hand ring 25, :and like the ring 3G except wider than the ring 34, and a plurality of similar alternately arranged intermediate mating rings 36 and 37 disposed therebetween and having interengagement with each other, to forin a con tinuous non-rotatable drum mounted on the shafts 23-29 between the plates i5 l5 of the cutter bar. While the rings 35i and 35 are herein shown as being of different widths, they need not v be so constructed, the width depending upon the desired spacing between the cutter bars.

The ring 34 has a series of bosses E53-3S e:: tending inwardly therefrom and forming support bosses through which the shafts 29--219 extend. The ring 35 has similar inwardly extended bosse-s t0-4B, While the rings Sii-315 and 3?-31 have corresponding bosses M-lii and i12-t2, respectively. The adjacent edges of adjacent rings 25 and 3ft, and 25 and 35, and 35 and 3i are recessed along the bosses 21, 21; 3e, 39; 4i), di) and 4i, 4l to accommodate the gearing between two adjacent rings, for driving the shaft l@ from the sprockets 23--23 and for driving the alternate-ly 'arranged core breaker and cutter bit carrying sleeves 32 and 3S from the shaft i9, as will hereinafter more fully appear as this specification proceeds.

The sprockets 2323 are allochiral and the drive therefrom to the shaft I9 includes an internal gear 43, herein shown as being formed integrally with an inwardly extending sleeve portion 44 of each sprocket. The internal gears (i3- 43 mesh with pinions 45--45 journaled on the shafts 29-29 on shouldered bearings 41-.-4T.

As herein shown, the flanged or shouldered portion of each bearing 41 abuts one side of each pinion 45, while a bearing washer i3 abuts the opposite side of said pinion. The pinions It-Jui with spur gears 43-49, which may be secured to the shaft i3 as by keying.

Spur gears 5U-5i are herein shown as being spaced along the shaft iS inwardly of the spur gears 13S- 43 by spacer sleeves 5I-5L Said spur gears may be suitably secured to said shaft, by keying, and serve to drive the outermost core breaker' carrying rings or sleeves 32-32 from said shaft. A similar spur gear 59 is shown be secured to said shaft between the s 5i-5, just mentioned, to drive the inte cere breaker carrying sleeve 32.

Spur gears 53--53 of a larger diameter than the spur gears 50,-- are secured to the shaft t9 between the spur gears Eli-50 and serve to drive the kerf cutter carrying sleeves 33-33 at a higher speed than the sleeves 32-32. Spacer sleeves 54-54 are provided to space the spur gears 5-50 and 53-53 apart.

The spur gears 50-5D mesh with spur gears 555-55, rotatably journaled on the shafts 29-29 on flanged bearings Fili- 56, like the flanged bearings 41-41. The spur gears 55-55 mesh with internal gears 59-59, herein shown as being formed integrally with the breaker carrying sleeves 32-32. The sleeves 32-32 are herein shown as having two laterally spaced annular rings 69-69 registering with the inner peripheries thereof and secured thereto on opposite sides of the internal gear 59, as by machine screws TEE-1Q. The rings 63-59 are shown as being rotatably mounted in facing spaced flanged bearings "il-JH, mounted on the rings 34, 36; 36, 31; and 36, 35, respectively, depending upon the location of the respective sleeves 32 along the drum 3l.

The flanged bearings 'll- 1| are disposed on opposite sides of the spur gears 55-55 and internal gears 5S-59. The fianges of said bearings extend outwardly along the outer edges of the sleeves 32--32. The outermost of the flanges of said bearings Vabut the inner edges of the sleeve portions 44-44 of the sprockets 23-23, while the inner flanges of said bearings abut the edges of the sleeves 33-33, and form thrust bearings therefor.

The spur gears 53-53 mesh with spur gears 57-57 journaled on the shafts 23-29 on hanged bearings 58-58 like the bearings Sti-56 and IVI- 41. The spur gears 51-51 are of a smaller diameter than the spur gears 55-55 and mesh with internal gears 63-63, herein shown as being formed integrally with the kerf cutter carrying sleeves 33-33. The sleeves 33-33 are journaled on .annular bearings 'I3- 13, mounted on the respective annular ring sections 36 and 31. The bearings 'I3-13 are spaced on opposite sides of the spur gears 51-51 and abut the flanges of the anged bearings H--TII at their outer ends. The sleeves 33-33 are thus journaled on the drum 3| on the bearings *I3- 13 and on the fianges of the anged bearings 1l-1|, and are driven from the shaft i9 simultaneously with the sleeves 32-32 at a higher rate of speed than the speed of rotation of Vsaid sleeves 32-32.

The core breaker carrying sleeves 32-32 are herein shown as having a pluralityv of spaced blocks 60-60 secured thereto as by welding and projecting outwardly from the periphery thereof. Said blocks are adapted to detachably carry core breaker bits SII-.6 I., secured thereto as by set screws 62.-62. The core breaker bits lil-6| are herein shown as having two rather widely spaced breaking points to engage the core at laterally spaced points and crack, break and scrape olf the cores 'between the kerfs, as in application Serial No. 122,318, filed by Frank Cartlidge on October 19, 1949, so not herein described further.

The kerf cutter carrying sleeves 33--33 are herein shown as having blocks Srl- 54 projectingr radially outwardly therefrom, to carry cutter bits 65-65 detachably secured thereto, as by set screws (iB- 66. The blocks Gli- Ed may be like those commonly used to carry cutter bits, and certain of said blocks may be center blocks and extend perpendicularly to the faces of the sleeves 35i-33 and certain other of said blocks may extend at angles to each side of said center blocks, to position the bits to cut the required clearance for said blocks. The cutter bit carrying blocks Gli- 65 are spaced more closely together than the core breaker carrying blocks Sii-fifi to position and so space the cutter and breaker bits with relation to the speed of rotation of their respective sleeves, so the cutter bits will efficiently cut the respective kerfs, leaving the cores therebetween to be broken down in the form of lump coal by the more widely spaced and slower moving core breaker bits Gi-Giy It should here be understood that the kerf cutter bits Slitil are primarily designed for cutting at a relatively high speed, and during cutting, cut parallel kerfs in the coal face, the coal cut thereby being in the form of cuttings of a small particle size, commonly called bug dust, and that the breaker bits ti-El are primarily designed to rupture, break down and scrape off the cores between the kerfs out by the cutter chains l2-l2 and cutter bits trl- E4 in relatively large particle sizes in the form of lump coal.. slower travel of the breaker bits with respect to the kerf cutter bits, so that each time the breaker bits engage the face of the coal, the cutter bits will have cut a kerf of sufficient depth to assure that the breaker bits will break off the coal in the form of lumps, and the slower the speed of travel of the breaker bits and the farther inwardly the tips of the breaker bits are spaced from the tips of the cutter bits, the larger will be the lumps of coal broken off thereby.

While various arrangements of cutter bars and core breakers may be provided, in order to balance all requirements for breaking off the cores and to provide a relatively smooth operating cutting and dislodging element, the breaker bits are spaced with relation to the cutter bits, as shown in the drawings, although they need not be so spaced and may be spaced farther apart or closer together, the speed of travel of the breaker bits relative to the speed of travel of the cutter bits, as well as the size of lump coal desired, determining the spacing thereof.

It will be understood that mcdincations and variations of the present invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof.

I claim as my invention:

l. A continuous cutting and dislodging element for coal and the like comprising two spaced cutter bars, a sprocket journaled at the forward end of each cutter bar and cutter chains movable about said bars and sprockets, a shaft journaled adjacent its ends in said cutter bars, a drive connection from at least one of said sprockets to said shaft, a drum encircling said This is attained by the greater spacing and shaft, a plurality of sleeves journaled thereon for rotation thereabout, individual geared drive connections from said shaft to said sleeves for driving alternate of said sleeves at different speeds, certain of said sleeves having cutter bits projecting therefrom and alternate of said sleeves having core breakers projecting therefrom, and the drive to said sleeves having said core breakers mounted thereon, driving said sleeves at slower speeds than the speed of rotation of said sleeves having said kerf cutters mounted thereon.

2. A continuous cutting and dislodging element comprising two spaced cutter bars, a sprocket iournaled adjacent the forward ends of each of said cutter bars, cutter chains guided for movement along said bars and changing their direction of travel about said sprockets, a shaft journaled at its ends in said cutter bars, a drive connection from at least one of said sprockets to said shaft, a drum encircling said shaft, a plurality of sleeves journaled on said drum for rotation about an axis concentric with said shaft, individual geared drive connections from said shaft to said sleeve including a pluralityof spaced gears on said shaft, a plurality of intermediate gears driven therefrom, internal gears on said sleeves meshing with said internal gears, alternate of said gears on said shaft being of dierent diameters to drive alternate of said sleeves at higher speeds than the others, said sleeves driven at the higher rate of speed having cutter bit carrying cutter blocks projecting therefrom and said sleeves driven at the lower rate of speed having breaker elements projecting therefrom.

3. ln a mining head for continuously cutting and dislodging coal from a solid face, a drum supported at its ends for movement into and vertically along a solid face, a shaft extending along said drum within the margins thereof and journaied for rotation with respect thereto, a plurality of sleeves rotatably journaled on said drum in side-by-side relation, certain of said sleeves having rows of spaced cutter bits projecting therefrom at various angles with respect thereto, and certain other of said sleeves having aligned spaced breaker elements projecting therefrom in a different spaced relation than said cutter bits, geared reduction means driven by said shaft, for driving said sleeves carrying said cutter bits at one speed, and other gear reduction means driven by said shaft, for driving said sleeves carrying said breaker elements at a different speed.

4. ln a continuous cutting and dislodging element for coal and the like, a drum, a plurality of spaced cutter bars supporting said drum at their ends, cutter chains orbitally movable about said cutter bars, a shaft rotatably journaled in said cutter bars, sprockets at opposite ends of said drum and journaled in said cutter bars for rotation about an axis coaxial with the axis of said shaft, and driven by the cutter chains on said cutter bars, geared drive connections between said sprockets and said shaft, a plurality of concentric sleeves rotatably journaled on said drum in side-by-side relation with respect to each other, certain of said sleeves having kerf cutter bits projecting therefrom, certain other of said sleeves having breaker bits projecting therefrom, individual geared drive connections between said shaft and said sleeves having said kerf cutters projecting therefrom, for driving said kerf cutters at relatively high cutting speeds, and individual geared drive connections between said shaft and said sleeves having said breaker bits projecting therefrom, for driving said breaker bits at a slow core breaking speed.

5. In a continuous cutting and dislodging element for coal and the like, a drum, two spaced cutter bars, means supporting said drum between the outer ends of .said cutter bars, cutter chains having cutters bits projecting therefrom and guided for orbital movement along said cutter bars, sprockets journaled for rotation about said drum and changing thedirection of travel of said cutter chains at the forward ends of said cutter bars, a shaft extending Within said drum and journaled in said cutter bars for rotation with respect thereto, geared drive connections between said sprockets and said shaft, a plurality of sleeves encircling said drum in side-by-side relation and journaled thereon for rotation about said drum, said sleeves immediately adjacent said cutter bars having breaker bits projecting therefrom and certain other of said sleeves having cutter bits projecting therefrom, individual geared drive connections between said shaft and said sleeves having said breaker bits projecting therefrom for driving said sleeves and the breaker bits carried thereby at a slow core breaking speed, and individual geared drive connections between said shaft and said sleeves having said cutter bits projecting therefrom for driving said sleeves and the cutter bits carried thereby at a high cutting speed.

6. In a continuous cutting and dislodging element for coalrand the like having two spaced vertically movable cutter bars, a drum supported therebetween, adjacent the outer ends thereof, orbit-,ally driven cutter bit carrying cutter chains guided for movement about said cutter bars, and

sprockets journaled on said drum adjacent the endsthereof in alignment with said cutter bars and changing the direction of travel of said cutter chains aboutsaid cutter bars, the improvements comprising a plurality of sleeves journaled on said drum in side-by-side relation, alternate of said sleeves having a row of cutter bit carrying blocks projecting therefrom, and the intermediate of said sleeves having a row of breaker bit carrying blocks projecting therefrom, a drive shaft journaled coaxially of said sleeves, an internal geared drive connection between said sprockets and said shaft, individual geared drive connections between said shaft and alternate of said sleeves including gears secured to said shaft, internal gears on said sleeves and intermediate gears meshing therewith and driving said sleeves and cutter bit carrying blocks at a high cutting speed, and other individual drive connections between saidshaft and said other sleeves including gears secured to said shaft, of a smaller diameter than said first-mentioned gears, internal gears on said other sleeves, and intermediate gears meshing therewith and driving said other f' sleeves and breaker bits at a slower core breaking speed.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,811,927 Halleck June 30, 1931 2,096,917 Pray Oct. 26, 1937 2,415,217 Osgood Feb. 4, 1947 2,643,106 McGowan June 23, 1953 

